Do Liberals believe government is the answer?

Question

welfare and other government programs since Johnson's great society have done nothing statistically to solve poverty, and if anything those areas are much worse off with drugs and violence instead of jobs and families.
Conservatives statistically give much more to charity (read: Who really cares? the Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatives written by Arthur Brooks, Prof Syracuse U). They believe in helping people help themselves, yet Liberals accuse them of hating the poor.

To answer your question, Henry VIII, we are heavily involved in charities, missions, and churches with programs to help families get jobs, feed their families, and take care of the sick. Private donations are enormous, and we are much more efficient and successful than government. Corporate donors are our largest contributors, despite what the Left says about them.

Answer 1

You are not really asking a question - you just want someone to justify your own beliefs.

But a wise man once told me:
- Conservatives often care about their neighbors but neglect the wider world
- Liberals often care about the wider world but neglect their neighbors.

Neither group has all the answers.

Answer 2

I think government should be helping out, but not in the form of direct welfare payments. It's the whole " teach a man to fish" idea. Simply giving someone living in poverty a check doesn't do anything to elevate them. The governmnet and American society have a vested interest in making sure that poverty and drug use are as rare as possible. The government is particularly well suited to combat this sort of thing if they do it right. However they should be focusing on Education and job placement instead of welfare and food stamps.

Answer 3

When things are a mess or out of control and the private sector can't or won't do anything about it the government must step in and end the problem.

If the compassionate conservatives believe in helping people to help themselves how do they do that? Give some examples of what a compassionate conservative does to end poverty, to provide a decent living for someone, to improve access to health care for everyone. What are they doing to get people off drugs? Is compassionate conservatism all talk and no do? It seems so as no evidence of things improving in health care access or seniors being able to live without having to decide whether to eat or take medicine. There is no evidence that those living below the poverty level can get a decent job to get them out of poverty. Since we can't just let them die we have to use welfare. Everyone would love to get rid of welfare for good but no one has come up with a plan that would assure everyone of a good paying job where they could depend on food, clothing, shelter and health care. If one has no medical insurance and has a catastrophic illness all their life savings could dissappear in a very short time and they would go from a comfortable life to poverty. What solution do the compassionate conservatives have for that scenario? Instead of griping about what the liberals have not done offer up a solution.

Answer 4

Henry VII.....".....Give some examples of what a compassionate conservative does to end poverty, to provide a decent living for someone,....."
"........plan that would assure everyone of a good paying job where they could depend on food, clothing, shelter and health care......"
Assure?? Provide???
I guess you don't like self-determination.
You just made Stereos point......

We the People of the United States, in Order
to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.

It says "promote" general welfare, not "provide" as it does for defense,,,,,

Answer 5

Well we don't want another Africa in America where children are starving to death. Dying of Hunger. Strange indeed if the fact that it's the party who whines and complains about welfare who is the one that wants to stop abortions. AS if welfare wouldn't balloon out.
Is it that conservatives give more?? Or is it that conservatives insist on the reciepts to the can get the tax deduction??
I honestly prefer to know that there is a child who might overwise have gone to bed hungry, but because of food stamps go to bed with a full belly. Then to see the government spend 400 million dollars on a bridge to no where.

Answer 6

Yes, It is the absolution of self determination at its best. The reliance on a helping hand only leads to dependance on a crutch. The true socialization and destruction of a system build on hard work, determination , and the idea of attaining individual autonomy.

Answer 7

Ever notice even with a democrat prez and congress, there is still little progress in eliminating poverty?
Odd? No?
In keeping the democratic voter base poor, the politicians are assured re-election simply buy offering empty hope and lies.
"Vote for me and I will help you!!!! YOu can't do it yourself without ME!!!!!"

Answer 8

Exactly! They do nothing but more harm to the middle class and poor people they claim to help.

Answer 9

Absolutely, and now they want to start controlling the American people as soon as they reach preschool by pushing for state-run preschools... scary

Answer 10

The article is 7 years old and includes money given to churches.

Isn't it rather strange that republicans always preach smaller government, but when they get in office the government grows at record pace?
and the deficit-----------------Grows EVEN FASTER